Coasters enter new era

Dave Challinor says the promise of a new stadium was one of the key factors which attracted him to the AFC Fylde manager's job.
Coasters boss Dave ChallinorCoasters boss Dave Challinor
Coasters boss Dave Challinor

Fylde’s new Field Mill home opens for business tomorrow to stage its first National League North fixture between the Coasters and Brackley Town.

While acknowledging that the big day piles pressure on his new-look side to put in a performance to match the surroundings, Challinor said he is relishing the challenge.

“It will be amazing,” said the Coasters boss.

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“From the playing point of view we have to make sure that Saturday is about the game and that we back up what we did last weekend with the win at Telford.

“It’s a fantastic facility and the day will be a celebration but we can’t get involved in anything off the field.

“The stadium is something the club needed and is a big reason I came here. It’s been a long process but it will be brilliant.”

Unbeaten so far, Brackley had an excellent 2-1 midweek win over a Kidderminster side who themselves hit Curzon Ashton for six last Saturday.

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Fylde too have made a good start, winning through a Danny Rowe strike at Telford with a team Challinor described as “thrown together”, including a goalkeeper in Rhys Taylor whose signing was completed a few hours before kick-off.

He said: “We’ve had a great start considering the team we put out.”